Get a grant

I will not pretend I know what it takes to get a large grant. However, I like to have an opinion on everything, so here is some advice for those of you who apply for a grant. Please, do not come back and sue me if this advice is wrong!

• Always apply for a project or program based on a solid publication record. In short, people fund you based on what you have done in the recent past, not on what you claim you can do. The best way to build a research program is probably to take your top 3 papers of the last 2-3 years and build a program around it. Include preliminary results. The time to take risks is when you finish a funded project, not when you apply for a grant.
• Scientific merit is not enough. Funding agencies want to see how your project fits with students, other projects and so on. And scientific merit is nothing if you can’t convince the reviewers that the ideas are good and worth funding.
• For safety, diversify! Include 2-3 goals. But do not include too many subprojects that are not closely related.
• Make sure they know you have the time, staff, data, and gear to get the research done.
• Do not ask why, but do it: the body of the proposal narrative is in a serif font with section headings in a sans-serif font.
• Always include an introduction, even if they do not ask for one. The introduction should be distinct from the summary of the proposal found elsewhere: avoid duplication.
• Always include a conclusion, even if they do not ask for one.
• If they ask for 5 pages, give them 5 pages packed full.
• Use graphics, plots, diagrams. Do not overdo it, but include some to make your point. Even if it is not specifically permitted.
• Use “we” and not “I”. Be formal.
• The first sentence should be aimed at grabbing the reader’s attention. Use punchlines.
• Explain correctly the gap in knowledge you want to fill.
• Why should we care about your research?
• Describe as precisely as you can, the work you want to do.
• In all things, be specific even if you think it will make you look bad. Be forthcoming with the information. If a publication is primarily the work of a graduate student under your supervision - say so. If the order of authors reflects their respective contribution - say so. If anything is not clear, then a reviewer might assume the worst case scenario.
• Gaps in your publication records, even if they can be justified, will hurt you. There is nothing you can do about it so avoid them. Quantity does matter.
• Publishing in good places matter. Publishing in journals matter.
• If you have highly cited papers, point it out.
• Inline lists are your friend: (i) they use less space (ii) they are easy to browse.

Here is more advice from Tomorrow’s professor. See also 10 tips toward better grant writing and this advice from the U.S. Department of education.